Bicycles

[Blackheart]

Cool pic Jii, we'll be getting darker earlier here this weekend when daylight savings time ends.

[Jii]

Haha, I guess we're about a month away from having four hours of daylight per day I guess our ancestors did the decision of settling here in summertime - that or they we're feeling suicidal. Probably both.

[Blackheart]

That means we'll have to ride earlier or get a bunch of lights to prolong the fun!

[Giles]

About 30 years ago I had this frame hand made for me by Mercian.  It was built specifically for a long tour I was planning, so has pretty lazy angles etc.  My life moved on and I never built the bike up.  The frame has moved from house to house with me ever since.  We have a customer/friend staying with us from Switzerland at the moment and he is a classic bike nut.  We have done a deal, he will source as much original (to the era) stuff as poss and I will pay him with clothes.  I have phoned Mercian to try and get the exact specs of the frame out of them, as I have long forgotten….I am very very excited......

[Giles]

And part of the first "care package" he is sending me is this beautiful Berthaud saddle….

[rocket]

interesting project…

[bertoni]

Amazing bikes everyone…those Fatbikes are insane. Liking the On One too Jii. I've got me a Santa Cruz Nomad Carbon (try and get pics up soon). It's a bit off subject but can anyone point me in the direction of some top quality mountain bike pants; waterproof, breathable, packable and easy to get on and off over boots.?

[unharmed]

Lovely. Watching with interest.

[Jii]

Wow Giles! Looking forward to the updates on this one.

Bertoni, first of all as always there's no such thing as waterproof and breathable for use in sports - sorry but that's the truth. Are you planning to use the pants offroad? That puts even more strain on the waterproof capabilities. The wisest choice would be to opt for something with all the attributes you're looking for bar the waterproofness. I'm thinking something by Endura or Pearl Izumi. I do bibs + cargo shorts or Troy Lee Mx pants when it's not pissing down and pull a pair of old Gore Tex-pants on when it is - only to remove them as soon as the rain stops. I can't stand the "plastic bag-feeling" waterproof clothes have and you're getting wet anyway - if you're wearing waterproof it's only from the moisture building up on the inside.

For example, went for a two hour ride yesterday wearing a technical baselayer (pants and shirt), TLD mx-pants (very well ventilated) and a very very thin winbreaker jacket - and sweated like a pig the whole time even though it was only +5 degrees celsius. Didn't rain but it was very wet and muddy on the trails.

[bertoni]

Thanks for the reply Jii. I do want to use them off road. Was looking at some full zip Vaude Birch pants but would prefer something Goretex that packs up smaller so I can take them on and off easy enough and store them in my pack. I'll be using bibs and shorts too most of the time, just wanted to find a quality trouser that will keep me dry when I need it, especailly during 2 or three day adventures. Just out of interest, what Troy Lee trousers do you use?

[Jii]

Its the GP pant. Quite baggy in the thighs but sooooo comfy. It's like wearing sweatpants I added a snap in the hem to get them to be a bit skinnier, dont want them to flap around and get caught in the chain or anything like that.

The Pearl Izumi WxB:s look like a decent pair of pants and so does the Endura Tech pant. Forgot to mention that in addition to the comfort of tachnical pants I fall off a lot and a shell-type pant would get torn way too easily. That's also one of the reasons why I opt for durable but non-waterproof pants

[bertoni]

Thanks Jii. I've looked at the Pearl Izumis, the Gore Alp-X Active shell etc but don't think they'll be that easy to get over my Shimano MT91 boots! What goretex pants do you use?
And how do the GP pants come up size wise? How do they compare to IH sizing? I'm a W34 in the 634s (fit is tight but not too tight), what size would I need in the GP pant?

[Jii]

I wear the 38 in the TLD pants, but a 36 would surely work (my IH 634s size). I took the bigger ones because of the better inseam length. I'd go for a 34 unless you have long legs. They have a good velcro waist adjustment system. They are fairly wide though both in the hips and in the hem even though they are pretty slim for a motocross pant. They have practically no waterproofness though…

[Blackheart]

I use MX pants for mountain biking as well, I have Scott's but am looking into another pair and the Troy Lee's
are fantastic. My Scott's are a 36 waist, I use padded bike shorts under them and tuck in my shirts so I like
a bit more room. I haven't gotten them wet though so I can't report on waterproofness but like Jii said they're
very comfy and the wide elastic at the bottom fits snug over my high top 5.10 mountain bike shoes.

G that frame and seat are gorgeous, can't wait to see the finished set up! 

[Giles]

It's going to be a mixture of Shimano 7200 shifters/hubs/gears and Paul Components….

[Blackheart]

Wow, I sure hope you can get out and ride it before the weather there gets too nasty…How long before it's
put together?

[Giles]

It's going to be a 6-9 month project.  Arthur my Swiss friend has a "real" job and he has to rebuild a lot of the components.  He will send over to me in batches, then I buy what he can't supply.  I'm super looking forward to it.

[Blackheart]

By next summer you should have it all together then, it's going to be a beauty…

[daynym]

My Kona Coilair 2012

[derivative666]

That's a beauty